The event consists of two stages (note: not two rounds). Stage 1 will include activities that you will be carrying out at your respective colleges and Stage 2 will be conducted at NIT Trichy.

Stage 1:

• Designing the mix and casting three concrete blocks within the specified restrictions.
   
• Preparing an abstract for given problem statement and the deadline for online submission to us is on or before 24th February 2020.
• This is an eliminative round.

Stage 2:

• The cast concrete blocks are to be brought to NIT Trichy, during Pragyan.
   
• Weight, strength and size of the blocks will be tested.
   
• The submitted design reports will be evaluated and the teams will be asked to give a brief oral presentation of their work. They will be asked questions based on the work done.
   
• Points would be awarded across each category (See Judging Criteria) and the winner will be adjudged accordingly.

Note: The resources for accelerated curing have been uploaded in the website and can be used by the participants for reference. Shortlisted candidates will be informed via email.

• A team should have 2 or 3 members.

• The design mix should strictly adhere to the Indian Standards Code (IS 456).

• It is necessary to get the design report attested by the Head of the Department of your college.

• Abstract should be uploaded in the website on or before 24th February 2020.

• The design mix report should be in the standard format as mentioned in the resources.

• Any violation or deviation from the criteria mentioned in the problem statement will result in the disqualification of the team.

• Any violation from the rules mentioned will also lead to disqualification of the team.

• The judges’ decision will remain final.

Judging criteria:

The contestants will be judged on the following points:

• Least weight
  • The least average weight among the contestants will be adopted as the datum, say D kg. Teams with average weight of their cubes falling within D kg and (D + 5% of D) kg will proceed for the oral round. In case the number of teams falling within this range is low, then the top five teams with the lowest average weights will proceed for the oral round.
     
  • The next section is applicable to only those teams that qualify for the oral round.
     
  • Points awarded for the least weight will be equal to (2.5 – w)*25, where ‘w’ is the average weight of the three cubes in kg.
     
  • Note: Only teams scoring positive points in this will proceed to the next stage. For example, if the average weight of the cubes turn out to be 2.6 kg then points awarded will be (2.5-2.6)*25= -2.5, in which case the contestants automatically fail to qualify, even if the team finishes in the top five.

• Compressive strength
  • The Comprehensive strength of concrete for 14 days gonna test using UTM.

• Design report
  • The design report to be submitted online will carry 10 marks and will be awarded by the judge. Contestants are advised to stick to the design format provided in the Pragyan website.

• Oral briefing
  • The oral presentation will be conducted by the judge, who will also question the team members on the submitted design report. This section will carry a total of 10 marks.

• Marking Scheme
  • Comprehensive Strength - 60
  • Least weight - 20
  • Design Report - 10
  • Oral briefing - 10

• Concrete with a density of 2200-2400 kg/m3 must be used to obtain the highest possible strength.
• Sustainable materials must be used. For e.g.: such as e- waste, quarry dust.
• Dimension of the concrete cube 100 x 100 x100 mm cubes are mandatory.
• Plasticizers and Super-Plasticizers are the only admixtures that can be used.
• 14-days compressive strength will be conducted and the team with the maximum strength will be declared as winner.

Click on this link for Design mix report format

http://theconstructor.org/concrete/concrete-mix-design-procedure-example-is456/6005/

https://theconstructor.org/concrete/concrete-curing-methods/375/

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/5935317.html

http://www.happho.com/determining-concrete-compressive-strength-accelerated-curing-test-9013/

Ultra tech, cubes casting procedure and compressive strength test:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pTsLuaXOJWY

Cube test:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yovfkCpWToE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H2G9EiFYDI0

IS codes:

IS 456: Plain and Reinforced Concrete - Code of Practice: Bureau of Indian Standards https://archive.org/details/gov.in.is.456.2000

FAQs:

1) Are participants from departments other than Civil Engineering allowed in the team?
Yes, as long as they have knowledge in designing and casting concrete blocks.

2) Is it not difficult to carry three concrete blocks all the way from our college to NIT Trichy?
Yes, we understand it is difficult. If you wish to send your blocks a couple of days before your arrival using some transport agencies, you are welcome. The conditions are: It must be brought to our notice, and the blocks should arrive at our college prior to your arrival at Pragyan. We will not take any responsibility for damage of the blocks during transport.

3) Can we register once the problem statement is released?
Yes, you can register. But the rules won’t change and the deadlines would remain the same.

4) Are cross‐college teams allowed?
Yes. Cross-college teams are allowed.

5) Is it a maximum of 3 people or strictly a team of 3?
A minimum of 2 to a maximum of 3 people are allowed per team.

6) Are UG‐PG collaboration teams allowed?
No. Only UG students are allowed for the event.

7) Is there any registration fee?
No. There is no special registration fee for the event.

8) Do we get participation certificates?
No participation certificates will be given.

9) Is it compulsory to start the casting of cubes 28 days prior to the event?
No, we are not looking for the 28-day strength. When the cubes are brought to the venue for testing, the mentioned judging criteria must be satisfied.

10) Can we make our own design report including all the necessary details?
No. A standard format has been uploaded on the Pragyan site. You can download it, fill in the details, get it attested from your Head of Department and send it to us by the scheduled date.

11) Is it compulsory to fill all the details in the given design report?
More details you fill in, the better the possibility of getting more points. If any detail is not filled, it will not lead to disqualification but only loss of points in that category (refer judging criteria for the points allotted).

Contacts:

Saran: 9488832797

Raghul: 96005 19581